G1 Golden Easter Egg Heats

Mar 16 2018

The jewel in the crown of NSW Greyhound Racing, the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg, blasts off this weekend at Wentworth Park with 10 fantastic heats.

The cream of Australia's sprinters will converge on the Glebe circuit for the 3-week series, with the final to be run on Easter Saturday, March 31.

Heat 1 will feature speed to burn with 2017 finalist Up Hill Jill boxed to win in the 2. She is a quick beginner and loves Wentworth Park. Miss Splendarimo (3) and Wild Walter (5) are the in-form dangers along with Flyrite, who will get a cosy run.

Heat 2 sees Richmond Oaks champ Blue Sky Riot (box 6) chasing 6 straight wins, with National Derby winner Out Of Range (5) out to maintain his unbeaten Wenty record. TAB Melb Cup runner-up Chasin Crackers can figure if he jumps with them, while Black Hole Sun (8) has a lethal record from the pink.

In heat 3, defending champion Striker Light will jump from box 6. On her night she can run sizzling sectionals (most recently in the Group 1 Temlee) and has won 6 from 7 at Wentworth Park.

Ritza Lenny (8) has been moderately away at his past 2 starts but led all the way 3 runs back, defeating Horsham Cup winner Jimmy Newob in the Bulli Gold Cup and has clocked 29.60 at Wenty.

Heat 4 sees Lucky Chap drawn well in 6. 4th in last year's final, he's won 6 from 7 in the green rug and should get early room with keen railer and Australian Cup runner-up Hasten Slowly drawn directly inside.

Two Times Twice (3) and Falcons Fury (8) are also winning hopes.

In heat 5 Australian Cup champ Hecton Bale is clearly the one to beat from box 7, after clocking a flying 29.53 in his recent Group 1 success at the Meadows. He makes his Wentworth Park debut, while Dual Keroma (8) returns to Wenty having been freshened since his unplaced run in the Paws Of Thunder in January and is a definite hope.

Monster Fish (1) has early toe and is well boxed in the 1.

In heat 6 Poke The Bear (3) is expected to be hard to beat at this first start on the track. Litter brother to Out Of Range, he ran a solid 4th in the Australian Cup and will be powering home again.

It's A Party is another customer with great strength, while National Sprint finalist Bekin Street (1) is an interesting runner, returning from a 4 month injury layoff.

Heat 7 sees TAB Melbourne Cup winner Aston Dee Bee the one to beat from box 3. Runner-up in last weekend's Horsham Cup, he'll burn in to the first turn and should dominate, with Australian Cup placegetter Opal Nera sure to provide plenty of early speed.

Heat 8 is arguably the weakest, with Fernando Express (3) well fancied to win. 4th to Chasin Crackers in a heat of the Australian Cup, he only needs room heading into the back to figure and has a personal best of 29.91 at Wenty.

Envy Heist (4) is on debut here but has run well against the likes of Raw Ability and Chasin Crackers recently.

Big Black (7) and Fast Car Driving (8) are a must for exotics.

In heat 9, Slick (3) is ready to bounce back after missing the start in the Australian Cup final. Runner-up in the Temlee AND in the Paws Of Thunder here he has a pb of 29.67.

Rohan Hill is well boxed in 8 and will charge around them at the first turn, while Australian Cup finalist Zipping Inglis must be respected despite drawing awkwardly in 6. Snug (7) could be a place chance fresh.

In the 10th and final heat 2-time Speed Star champ Bewildering has had little recent ruck and can burn down the outside and dominate heading into the back.

Aston Duke (6) has a slow starter drawn directly underneath and clocked 29.84 here in a Free For All win 3 runs back. He loves Wenty.

Check out all of Saturday's Wentworth Park markets on TAB.com.au here.